Marrakesh
City in Morocco
Behind Marrakesh are the Atlas mountains
The Museum of Islamic Art, painted in Majorelle Blue, at the Majorelle Garden
T'hami El Glaoui, the Pasha of Morocco from 1912-1956
The central square of Marrakesh Jamaa El Fna
Marrakesh, or Marrakech (Berber: ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ; Arabic: مراكش, Murrākuš) is an important city in the African country of Morocco. It is the fourth largest city in the country. Marrakesh is the capital of the economic region of Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz.
Marrakesh is the most important city out of all of Morocco's cities that used to be imperial cities. Berber farmers lived in Marrakesh during Neolithic times. Abu Bakr ibn Umar, the chieftain and cousin of the king of the Almoravids Yusuf ibn Tashfin, founded Marrakesh in the year 1062. The Almoravids built many schools and mosques in Marrakesh. Marrakesh has the name "Red City" because a lot of it is made out of red sandstone.
Marrakesh got bigger very quickly and became a cultural, religious, and trading center for sub-Saharan Africa. The mayor of Marrakesh Fatima Zahra Mansouri is the second woman mayor in Morocco.
Tourism is important to Marrakesh, and the city has about 400 hotels, some very grand indeed.
Sofitel Hotel, 2013